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2 charged in Northern California road rage death

Terry Collins Associated Press

Posted:
06/16/2014 02:25:13 PM CDT

Updated:
06/16/2014 07:35:06 PM CDT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Two people have been charged in the shooting death of a Northern California man during a road rage incident that prompted one officer to raise more than $104,000 to help support the victim's family.

Fidadelfo Silva Ortiz, 17, and Daniel Alejandro Reyes, 23, both of San Jose, were arrested separately late last month on suspicion of killing Phuoc Hong Long Lam, 37, police said Monday. Ortiz was charged as an adult with murder and Reyes was charged with accessory to murder, prosecutor Stephen Poolos said.

Lam and the suspects got into a near-collision at a busy intersection not too far from the victim's home in San Jose's Little Saigon neighborhood, police said. When Lam got out of his car to speak to the other driver, the suspects are accused of shooting him and speeding off.

Lam, a married father of two young children, later died at a local hospital.

Investigators using tips, witness accounts and area surveillance video led them to arrest Reyes in Tracy on May 19 and Ortiz in Oakdale on May 23, Sgt. Heather Randol, a San Jose police spokeswoman, said Monday.

Police believe Lam and the suspects did not know each other, Randol said, adding that the arrests weren't announced sooner due to an ongoing investigation.

The incident in the neighborhood of San Jose police Officer Huan Nguyen led him to help Lam's widow, Dieu Huynh, and her 7- and 4-year-old sons by creating a website to collect donations. So far, more than $104,000 has been raised, Nguyen said Monday.

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Nguyen said he told Lam's family about the arrests late last month.

"They are thankful that we were able to get the suspects who we feel committed this tragic crime," Nguyen said. "Hopefully, it may give the family some closure and help them get on with their lives."

Ortiz and Reyes did not enter pleas during separate arraignment hearings last month in Santa Clara County Superior Court, authorities said. Reyes' lawyer, Victor Vertner of San Jose, and the Santa Clara County public defender's office, which is representing Ortiz, did not immediately return calls for comment Monday.